(Sports Network) – New York Yankees lefty CC Sabathia is off to a fabulous start this season, but Texas’ Alexi Ogando has been even better, not allowing a run over his first two starts.
The two get a chance to shine tonight when New York hosts the Rangers in the rubber match of a three-game series at Yankee Stadium.
Sabathia has allowed just four earned runs in three starts this season and has a 1.45 ERA. That’s his lowest ERA after his first three starts of a season since posting a 0.92 mark in 2005 with Cleveland. He’s coming off a game in which he scattered nine hits and allowed an unearned run over 5 2/3 innings of a 4-0 loss at Boston a week ago.
The Yankees hope Sabathia has the same magic he had in a start almost exactly a year ago in the Bronx against the Rangers. In that April 16, 2010 game the burly southpaw struck out six straight batters and threw six strong innings in a 5-1 win. He’s 8-3 in 14 lifetime starts against the Rangers.
As for Ogando, he’s making a strong transition from reliever to starter. In his first two appearance on this mound this season, the 27-year-old righty has allowed four hits in 13 shutout innings. This will be his fifth appearance (1st start) against the Yankees.
Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez left the game after the sixth inning with low back and oblique stiffness. He will not play tonight.